16. Mr. NEWDEGATEasked whether it would be competent, under the Government of Ireland Bill, for the Irish Government to require that Licence Duties should be paid by British travellers as in the Quebec province of the Canadian Confederation; whether the same authority might impose a tax upon any depot or place open to the exhibition and sale of British goods; whether a tax might be levied upon the gross amount of sales effected of British goods in Ireland; and whether, if all or any of these taxes were levied, it would be competent for the authority to exempt imports from other countries than Great Britain from similar imports?
§ The POSTMASTER-GENERAL (Mr. Herbert Samuel)Assuming that the question refers to the powers of the Irish Parliament and not of the British Government the answer to the first two parts of the question is in the affirmative, subject, of course, to the proviso that the legislation might be disallowed. I have no information as to the Licence Duties at Quebec which the hon. Member mentions. I am advised that the tax suggested in the third part of the question would be in the nature of a new Customs Duty and would be ultra vires. The last part of the question does not appear to arise.
§ Mr. H. SAMUELI think questions should be addressed to the Colonial Office as to taxes which at present exist in British Colonies.